Work Text:
“It’s so early,” Yuuji complains as he pushes open the door to the little coffee shop situated down a little side street in Tokyo.
Gojo stands behind the counter, hands outstretched and grin on his face. His glasses are sliding down the bridge of his nose, bright blue eyes glittering in excitement. “We open in an hour, Yuuji, time to wake up and start work! The coffee doesn’t make itself!”
“So early,” Yuuji complains again, rubbing his eyes.
He’s only worked here for a few weeks already, but this is his first time working the opening shift. Early mornings are not his thing, but he needs a job, and Sukuna would kill him if he bailed on the one his brother managed to get him in the first place.
“You’ll get used to it,” Gojo assures him with a cackle. “Start on the morning tasks. It’s pinned on the board by the cooler. Once you’re done with that, let me know. Should be time to open the doors by then.” Gojo claps his hands together, his grin still firmly in place, and then he spins around and heads through the opening in the back toward his office.
Sukuna had recommended this job, because he knows Gojo who owns this little coffee shop. Infinite Void, one of the most popular coffee shops in Tokyo and Kyoto. There are a handful open, all owned and operated by the Gojo family. Yuuji still doesn’t quite get how his brother even knows Gojo in the first place, just that Sukuna seems to know Geto, who happens to be dating Gojo. He’s never met Geto yet, but he’s seen photos of him taped to a board in Gojo’s office.
Yuuji sighs and looks at the task at hand. He needs to prep the machines, make sure every surface is clean and free of any dust that collected over night, and then twenty minutes before opening he has to start on making the coffee and should have two pots done by the time the front doors open to welcome the first customers of the day. Yuuji stretches, hands above his head, and shakes out his arms. Okay, he can do this, it’s just like his training so far, it’s just a little bit different. More responsibilities, ones he’s sure he can’t get wrong, or there’s going to be a lot of angry people, most of which are probably going to be salarymen on their way to the office.
An hour and a half later, the shop is primed and ready for the day, and two pots are currently brewing. He reads over the list again and looks around at everything before him, smiling when he sees that he’s completed everything.
Right before opening, Gojo finally comes back to the front and starts checking up on Yuuji’s progress. Smiling, Gojo declares that everything looks great. A knock at the front door pulls both of their attention, and Gojo’s smile grows even wider and he darts over to the door, unlocking it and greeting the customer.
There’s still five minutes until opening, but Gojo seems to be disregarding that for this person.
“Nanamin!” Gojo greets, clapping the man on the back. “You look like the dead.”
Nanami only glares at Gojo, seeming uninterested in dealing with any and all of Gojo’s comments. “It’s early,” Nanami grumps. “I just want my damn coffee before I have to show my face at the office.”
“You’re the one who went into office work after college,” Gojo says, pointing his finger. “You could have done anything else.”
“I’m not sure what else I could’ve done. This job pays well. I can’t be you, who could easily stay home and not lift a single finger all day.”
Gojo laughs. “I could, but where’s the fun in that? Plus I enjoy managing this little place. I’m not having anyone else do it and put my business into the ground.”
“You have other people run the other coffee shops,” Namami points out.
“Geto helps me with the one in Kyoto,” Gojo says. “And I take my days off. That’s why I’ve got Yuuji now.” Gojo points to Yuuji, whose mouth falls open.
Gojo’s doing what now?
“What?” Yuuji asks in surprise.
Nanami sighs, rubbing tiredly at the bridge of his noise in clear irritation. “You didn’t tell him, did you?”
“You’re going to help take care of this place on my days off. We’re closed on Sundays already, so most likely Saturdays.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Yuuji says, rubbing the back of his head.
“You’ll be just fine,” Gojo assures him. “You’re doing great already. It’s only one day a week to start!”
“I guess you do need more days off,” Yuuji agrees, “but I think you might have too much faith in me.”
“Your brother said you’d be good for this job, and so far you’ve been doing great.”
“That doesn’t sound at all like Sukuna.” Yuuji’s pretty sure Sukuna most likely just told them that his little brother needed a job.
“Well, I didn’t talk to Sukuna directly. Geto did.” Gojo points a finger at him, all smiles. “But it sounded like a solid recommendation and you’re doing just fine, kid. Trial run, and we’ll see how it goes.”
From across the counter, Nanami fixes his glasses before motioning over where the coffee pot beeps to signal it’s done brewing. “You’re not working completely alone, Yuuji.” Turning to Gojo, he adds, “That one girl you hired before Yuuji. What was her name again?”
“Nobara!”
“Yes, her. She’ll be working with you, Yuuji, so you two will be just fine I’m sure,” Nanami says.
“I’ve only met her once, but she seems nice,” Yuuji says. He’s pretty sure he’s supposed to work with her tomorrow, so he’ll see how they work together then. For now, Yuuji fixes Nanami his coffee and then starts getting to work on the rest of opening duties.
-
Yuuji’s busy ringing up customers a week later when he spots the most beautiful person he’s ever seen standing a few places back in line. Yuuji gets momentarily distracted, missing whatever the customer he’s currently helping says, and Gojo comes up behind him and gives him a small smack.
“Pay attention. Stop staring off into space,” Gojo chastises, but it’s with a bright smile.
“I saw the most beautiful man,” Yuuji says wistfully, and sighs dramatically.
He rings up the next few customers, and then the beautiful man is standing before him. He’s wearing an unimpressed stare as he tells in perfect monotone his order.
“Megumi! I told you that you should try the new drink! Yuuji here makes it perfectly,” Gojo tells the beautiful customer.
“Shut up, I’m ordering what I always do,” Megumi says with a roll of his eyes. Gojo laughs and says something Yuuji tunes out, because he’s still hopelessly stuck on staring at the man before him. He doesn’t even fully register it as Gojo heads back to his office. Megumi hasn’t even looked up from his phone yet, but Yuuji dutifully listens as Megumi finally rattles off his coffee order. He quickly swipes his card and blindly accepts the receipt that Yuuji holds out to him.
“It’s nice to meet you!” Yuuji greets cheerily. “I’m Itadori Yuuji!”
“Great,” Megumi says, and he still doesn’t look up at Yuuji. Megumi points at a table in the corner. “I’ll be over there, whenever it’s ready.”
Slowly but surely Yuuji deflates, smile not as bright as before. “It’ll be right up,” Yuuji assures him.
Yuuji watches Megumi walk over to the table and sit down. Megumi takes out a laptop from his backpack and sets it up, seemingly ready to settle down for the rest of the day.
“Don’t be hard on yourself, Yuuji,” Nobara says. “Megumi’s kinda the ‘keep to himself’ type. He doesn’t really talk to any of us, except for Gojo, and even that borders on hostility.”
For a brief moment, he almost forgot Nobara was here. Yuuji sighs, still unable to take his eyes off of Megumi, but forcing himself to because he does need to start making his drink. “So he’s always like this?”
“For the most part,” Nobara says. “He used to come in a lot my first few weeks here, but then he stopped. That’s why you haven’t met him ‘til now. He’s apparently a writer, from what Gojo said. He finished one book, then took a break, and I guess now he’s back.”
“So he just sits here all day drinking coffee and writing?” Yuuji asks as he gets the machine ready. “Gojo just lets him?”
“They’ve known each other for a long time,” Nobara explains. “Something to do with Megumi’s dad. I didn’t pry, so I don’t know the full story.”
As much as it leaves Yuuji feeling curious, he’s not going to pry either. However, he’s more than determined to get Megumi to talk to him. He’s especially going to try to at least get Megumi to look his way.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Nobara says, and he must have a certain look on his face, because she nudges him in the side. “You leave him alone.”
“But he’s-” Yuuji starts, but Nobara successfully nudges him again, and he comes so close to toppling the coffee pot on the floor. Yuuji squeaks, a near unholy sound coming out of his mouth as he tries to prevent the coffee from going everywhere. He just barely saves it, but when he looks up and over, Megumi is finally looking at him. It’s not the same one that Yuuji sports whenever he looks at Megumi. But at least he’s looking at him, and honestly Yuuji will take what he can get. “I almost spilled this!”
“Then stop thinking with your dick!” Nobara scolds.
“Since when did I say anything lewd!” Yuuji hisses back. “I just want to talk to him. Is that a crime now?”
“Yes!” Nobara says. “Now be careful, give him his coffee, and don’t do anything more! We have a line forming anyway, and you don’t need distractions.”
“But he’s pretty.” It comes out as a whine, and Nobara fixes him with a glare that has Yuuji’s mouth snapping shut.
“And you’ll be pretty sorry if you don’t get back to work.”
Waving his hands in surrender, Yuuji laughs and starts walking over to Megumi.
-
Despite what Nobara said, Yuuji’s still feeling determined. It’s not that he wants to be annoying or bother Megumi or anything, and if Megumi straight up tells him to leave him alone then he’ll respect that. Yuuji might be a lot of things, but he knows what the word ‘no’ means. So Yuuji’s come up with ‘Operation: Get Megumi to Talk to Me’. It’s not a fool proof plan and it’ll probably either fail or backfire on him completely, but Yuuji’s filled with enough determination to fuel all of Tokyo.
That first day of meeting him, Yuuji had kept to his word and didn’t say anything more, besides, “Here’s your coffee.” Megumi had grunted out a thanks, but hadn’t looked at him again. If anything, that only managed to fuel his desire to talk to him more. For the most part, all Yuuji wants to do is befriend him, because at the end of the day Megumi really looks like he just needs a friend more than anything. If he tells Yuuji he's not interested, then maybe they can just be friends? Yuuji would be content with that.
It’s not until a few days after that first meeting that Megumi shows up again. Yuuji is in the middle of packaging a few treats for a customer when the doors open and Megumi slowly makes his way in, his laptop bag slung along one shoulder. Yuuji’s head shoots up, the tongs in his hand forgotten for a moment.
“I don’t want that many,” pulls Yuuji from his stare and he looks down at the container to see he’s put in ten instead of the six that the woman had asked for.
Yuuji lets out a small, nervous laugh and quickly fixes his mistake before closing the container up and bringing her over to pay for the food. She’s still eying him with a little apprehension, but she easily pays for her food and leaves. There’s no other customers around right now and technically he should go do something worthwhile - like making sure everything’s well-stocked or cleaning any tables people have recently vacated - and yet he finds himself walking over to Megumi’s table.
It’s most likely a horrible idea. Yuuji can hear Nobara’s scolding in the back of his mind, and yet he stops at Megumi’s table, smiles his brightest smile, and says, “Hi!”
Megumi slowly looks up, blinking at Yuuji in what looks like pure disbelief. “Hi?” It comes out as a question, and Yuuji’s not sure what to do with that, but when Yuuji doesn’t say anything yet Megumi adds, “Do you want me to order?”
“If you want to!” Yuuji chirps. “But you really don’t have to, because I remember what you ordered last time.”
Megumi blinks again. “Okay. I was here once, how do you-”
“Hold on, I’ll be right back!” Yuuji assures him, before disappearing back around the counter. He does remember Megumi’s order. It’s not the most difficult, intricate drinks like some people who come in here get, but it’s definitely not quite something he thought Megumi would order. It’s one of their sweetest drinks, with two shots of espresso, and a dollop of whipped cream on top with chocolate drizzle. It looks absolutely delicious, though.
When he’s done, he forgoes even ringing it up, but he figures going to see if he actually did get it right is more important. Plus he also figures since Gojo knows Megumi he wouldn’t really care. Yuuji sits the drink down in front of Megumi and waits patiently.
“Huh,” Megumi says as he eyes it. Finally, he brings the drink up and takes a sip of it. “You actually got it right.”
“I figured since you’re a regular customer and all, that it’d be good to memorize what you order, so,” Yuuji trails off.
“But you’ve only taken my order once,” Megumi points out.
“Okay, you’re right, but,” Yuuji starts, but Megumi’s sigh has him cutting off.
Megumi doesn’t look irritated really. Actually, Yuuji can’t really read him at all right now. “I really appreciate this, but I really need to get started working.”
“Right! You have a book to write,” Yuuji says. “Nobara said you’re a writer.”
“Yeah.” Megumi shifts his laptop nervously.
“I’d love to read your books!” Yuuji tells him and watches as a splash of red shows up on Megumi’s face. Yuuji only grins impossibly wider.
“Okay,” Megumi says, just as Yuuji hears Nobara yell, “Yuuji, get back here and help me with all this heavy stuff. Stop bothering Megumi.”
Megumi’s eyes are wide and staring at where Nobara is peering around the corner. If looks could kill, Yuuji is more than sure that Nobara’s would have him dead in a second. Yuuji turns to Megumi and says, “Enjoy your drink!” complete with a little bow, before following Nobara to the back.
-
He’s honestly not sure if that little conversation he had with Megumi the other day even counts as a success for ‘Operation: Get Megumi to Talk To Me’. Technically, Megumi did talk to him, albeit it was only a handful of words. But was it even a true conversation? And should his operation count more towards Megumi being the one to initiate some of the conversation between them?
“I don’t know what I’m doing,” Yuuji says into his hands.
The coffee shop is closed. He’s already swept the entire place, wiped down every table, and even cleaned up all the equipment so it’s ready for tomorrow. There’s nobody here but him, so really, he’s just talking out into the void.
If Nobara was here, she’d probably agree, but then he’d have to explain what he’s even doing, and he hasn’t wanted to do that just yet. Although she clearly already knows, since every time they work together and Megumi comes in, she side-eyes him so hard he worries she’s gonna get some kind of eye strain.
Yuuji sighs, pushing away from the counter. He hasn’t really talked to Megumi much since that day with his drink. Not for a lack of trying, but for the fact Megumi always seems so busy and even if he really wants to speak to him, he’s not going to interrupt him when he seems to be in some sort of zone. Yuuji might not understand anything about writing books, but he totally gets it when you’re primarily focused on something in front of you. It’s like when he’s practicing fighting with Sukuna, he gets so zeroed in on that and everything else fades around him.
So, he gets it.
Yuuji flits around the store one last time, double checking everything before he decides he’s able to leave. Locking up the front door, he promises himself that he’ll try to talk to Megumi tomorrow. He could just wait for Megumi to make the move this time, but he somehow doubts that’ll ever happen.
-
“We’re out of a few ingredients,” Nobara states as soon as Yuuji walks through the door the next morning.
“Did you talk to Gojo?” Yuuji asks.
“He hasn’t been in yet and he’s not answering his phone,” Nobara explains. “I left a voicemail, and then another, much angrier voicemail thirty minutes after that one. You’d think he’d know to order everything ahead of time, and not forget.”
“Maybe he did and the delivery was just late?” Yuuji tries to think of something. He doubts Gojo has managed to keep his family’s business running so long by himself and forgotten to order supplies. “What are we out of anyway?”
“Let’s see,” Nobara says, and begins counting on her fingers. “We ran out of soy milk, two types of coffee creamers, and we ran out of espresso.”
“Oh, but Megumi takes two shots of espresso in his drink!” He’s not even sure how they managed to run out of anything. They typically keep an eye on the stock, but Gojo’s really the only one who can go through it properly and then do the order. What is he going to do when Megumi comes in and can’t have his drink? This is the worst. “What’re we going to do?”
“Maybe you can try calling him,” Nobara says.
“Call who?” comes from the other side of the counter, and Yuuji turns to see Megumi standing there, looking as handsome as always.
“Gojo,” Yuuji replies. “We ran out of a few things. Sorry, Megumi, but you won’t be able to order your drink today.”
“Did that idiot forget again?” Megumi is already taking his phone out of his pocket and calling someone. Oh, right. He knows Gojo personally. Megumi pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs loudly. “Your shop ran out of supplies, you might want to take care of that, now.” Megumi sighs again. “Look, I get it if you did and maybe they haven’t shown up yet, but can’t you just bring over some things from Kyoto? That makes a lot more sense than having your two new workers over here floundering on what to even do in this situation and clearly you weren’t answering their calls.”
When Megumi finally snaps his phone closed, Yuuji asks, “So what did he say?”
“He ordered it, apparently the delivery is slow or backed up. But he’s bringing over some things from one of his other shops so you should be fine for now,” Megumi replies. “Now I’m gonna go work on something. Can I just have hot cocoa?”
This is the most he’s ever heard Megumi talk. Yuuji just stares at him, not knowing what to say to all of that. Nobara says something to him, though. Thank god for Nobara.
“Thanks, Megumi,” Nobara says sweetly. “We’ll try to keep up with it all better, maybe we’ll need to remind him better to keep up with it.”
“I’d say he’s an idiot who maybe should’ve ordered it sooner than he did, but,” Megumi sighs. “He is trying to juggle a lot by himself. Geto helps, but he’s busy with his own work.”
“So is he coming by today then?” Yuuji asks.
“If he knows what’s good for him,” Megumi grumbles. “He knows I need my drink.”
“Until then I will make you the best hot chocolate!” Yuuji promises.
Megumi mumbles a thanks before walking over to his usual table. Nobara’s standing with her hands on her hips and Yuuji’s not quite sure what her expression even is. He doesn’t sense any anger, nor does she seem irritated.
“What’s up, Nobara?” Yuuji asks as he starts work on Megumi’s order.
“You’ve got it bad,” Nobara simply states with a shake of her head.
“I know you told me not to bother him, and I promise I haven’t! But-”
“But you really like him and so you’re trying to go about it the right way,” Nobara guesses. “I hope so, at least.”
“I do really like him. Have you seen him? He’s kinda perfect, don’t you think? And even if he doesn’t like me back, I’ve decided I’m perfectly okay just being his friend because I think he needs one.”
Nobara glances over at the person in question, and then cuts her eyes back to Yuuji. “I think you’re probably right there, even if we don’t know him outside of this place.”
“Everyone can use a friend,” Yuuji says, and Nobara finally cracks a smile.
“You’re a good person, Yuuji,” Nobara says. “Your brother on the other hand, I don’t know if he’s involved in the Yakuza or he’s just naturally like that.”
“Honestly I don’t know what he gets up to. We haven't talked a lot lately.” Sukuna’s been pretty busy ever since Yuuji got this job. Since moving out of grandpa’s house after he passed, they’ve kinda gone their separate ways except for the weekly dinners at their favorite restaurant. Sukuna did get him this job, but all of that was just on the phone.
“I thought you two were close, since he helped you get this job.”
“It’s a little complicated.” Yuuji tries to give her a reassuring smile, but he’s pretty sure he fails going by the look she gives him back.
He gets to work on his promise to Megumi. Usually, they just make the hot chocolate and put a dash of whipped cream on it, but for Megumi he wants to do something different. So he makes the drink like usual, and when it comes to the end, he puts a decent amount of whipped cream and then tops it with chocolate and caramel syrup. When he walks over to Megumi’s table, Megumi is lost in writing. His fingers are flying over his keyboard with quick proficiency.
Clearing his throat, Yuuji holds out the drink in offering. “Hope you like this! It’s how I usually make it for myself. It’s really good, I promise.”
Surprise flitters across Megumi’s features as he accepts the drink. The quiet moan of pleasure that escapes Megumi’s lips at the first taste of the drink has Yuuji’s face heating.
“This is really good.”
“You like it?”
“Yeah,” Megumi nods, and god, is he smiling? Yuuji closes his eyes for a moment and sure enough when he opens them again, there definitely is the smallest of smiles on Megumi’s face. He feels like someone should pinch him right now, because he must be dreaming. “It’s really delicious. Thanks, Yuuji.”
Smiling brightly, Yuuji says, “I’m glad you like it!”
Megumi points at his computer, silently informing Yuuji that talking time is over. “I need to get back to this. I have a deadline approaching.”
“Right! I’ll leave you to it.” With that, Yuuji spins on his heels and heads back around the counter.
Nobara is busy taking inventory. She’s crouched down where they keep the extra to-go cups. He decides he’s just going to let her do whatever it is she needs to, while he’s going to go into the back and see about making more sweets to put in the glass case.
It’s while he’s working on making something that it dawns on him that Megumi kinda had told him what he was doing. Maybe Megumi is warming up to him finally. Operation: ‘Get Megumi to Talk to Me’ is definitely looking like it’s starting to get somewhere. Yuuji grins down at the dough he’s kneading and wonders what the next day will bring, and the day after that.
-
“Why did you pick this place, Sukuna?” Yuuji whines as he walks up to the building of the restaurant.
“Because it doesn’t suck,” Sukuna tells him. “And stop whining, brat, you sound like a petulant child. The food here is good, you’ll see. Also, is that any way to talk to your big brother that you haven’t seen in awhile?”
“But the train ride was long and I had to open today,” Yuuji says. “I’m tired.”
“And now you’ll eat good food and then go home to sleep,” Sukuna points out. “I don’t know why you have to complain so much.”
“You could’ve picked me up!” Yuuji points out.
“Stop being such a brat. You know I work until late, so this was the only way,” Sukuna snaps out and okay, sure, he’s right. Yuuji can’t refute that at all. Whatever job Sukuna has always keeps him late, especially on Thursdays.
Yuuji sighs, long and loud, and Sukuna fixes him with another glare. Yuuji slumps back in his seat and reaches for his drink, pulling the straw to his mouth. The food here is good; Sukuna has only dragged him here once before, but he does remember the food being halfway decent.
“So do you want to hear about the job?” Yuuji asks after a few minutes.
Sukuna lifts his eyes, fixing Yuuji with a stare that reads no.
Yuuji continues anyway. “It’s not bad,” he tells his brother. “But the best part of the job is Megumi.”
“Megumi?” Sukuna raises an eyebrow. For a moment, Yuuji doesn’t think his brother knows who that is, but then Sukuna leans back in his seat and says, “So my baby brother has a crush on the cute writer.”
Yuuji hates how his face heats at that. Okay, yeah, so he has a big crush on Megumi. Even if he still doesn’t really talk to Yuuji much, Yuuji still can’t help how he feels. Megumi is hot, and nice, even if he’s quiet. Not to mention how he looks every time he sits deep in thought while he works on one of his books. He’s so wrapped up in his work, looking so absorbed that Yuuji can’t help but fall even more. If it’s one thing Yuuji likes, it is a man who is passionate about their interests.
“That’s not an open invitation for you to wax poetic about Megumi’s eyes or whatever it is going through your mind right now,” Sukuna reminds him.
Pouting, Yuuji says, “I wasn’t!”
“I know you, and if given the chance, you’ll start listing off what makes Megumi Fushiguro so amazing and while I’d agree with you,” Sukuna says. “I really don’t want to hear it.”
“He is amazing,” Yuuji sighs in agreement.
“So why don’t you go for it?”
“Because he barely talks to me and I don’t want to be that person!”
“What, desperate? Because I have news for you, little brother: you are.”
“Shut up, no I’m not,” Yuuji bites out, glaring.
“Okay, fine. Maybe desperate isn’t the right word, but you are very, very interested and I think you should listen to me and just go for it,” Sukuna tells him. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
“He could toss his hot drink on me,” Yuuji says.
Sukuna rolls his eyes. “Besides that, idiot.”
“He could say no.”
“Bingo. He could say no, and that’d be the end of that.”
“But if he doesn’t want to date, I’d be fine being his friend but if I mess it all up then he won’t want to be! I don’t want to make it awkward!”
“You’re thinking too damn much, Yuuji. Maybe it’ll be a little awkward at first if you get turned down, but it’ll be fine.”
“But-”
“Stop whining, and do something about it,” Sukuna scolds.
“Fine,” Yuuji says. “Fine, okay, you’re right. But hopefully it doesn’t blow up in my face.”
“It won’t. Unless you keep up with this attitude, then it might,” Sukuna says. “Eat your food, and then I’ll drive your sorry ass home.”
Yuuji picks up his chopsticks and stares down at his plate. He takes a bite of food and thinks about how maybe he should just take his brother's advice.
-
Okay, so he’s really started to think about what Sukuna told him. Maybe he should change ‘Operation: Get Megumi to Talk to Me’ and turn it into ‘Operation: Court Megumi’. Old-fashioned courting, complete with compliments and flowers and anything he thinks Megumi might like. But knowing most of that would mean talking to Megumi more, and that’s where Yuuji feels like he hits a brick wall.
So that’s how he finds himself standing in front of Gojo’s desk, propping his hands on the table and staring down at Gojo like his life depends on it. “Tell me about Megumi,” Yuuji demands in a rush.
“Excuse me?” Gojo says. “Can you say that a little bit slower, I didn’t understand you.”
Yuuji groans. “Tell me about Megumi! I need to know more about him.”
“And why do I need to tell you anything that you could just learn by talking to him and asking yourself?” Gojo questions. And god, he looks so all-knowing with the way he’s peering at Yuuji over his sunglasses. Yuuji can’t help but squirm and move away just an inch.
“Because he won’t really talk to me! I get a handful of words out of him and that’s it.”
“Why do I need to tell you anything?” Gojo asks. “I need to know your intentions.”
“I-My what?” His intentions? Gojo’s making it sound like Megumi’s some sort of damsel that needs protecting.
Gojo steeples his fingers together and grins. “Your intentions. What do you want to do?”
“Um,” Yuuji says for lack of anything better. This is not quite how he saw this going. He thought he’d walk in here and ask a simple question, and Gojo would just tell him. In hindsight, he should have seen this coming, but Gojo’s always kinda seems like some cryptic. “I want to date him,” Yuuji settles on, his words jumbled together, much too quiet but he’s pretty sure Gojo still heard him.
But of course not, because Gojo grins impossibly wider and says, “What’s that? I can’t hear you, you might want to speak up.”
“I said, I want to date him,” Yuuji says. “So I want to know what he likes so I can do that properly!”
His mouth snaps shut after that, because that came out much louder than he wanted it to, and all he needs is for Megumi to overhear him. Megumi walked into the coffee shop a minute before Yuuji managed to sneak back here, so he knows he’s in the building. He feels like he might not have thought this through enough, because knowing his luck, Megumi’s going to find out somehow and it’ll ruin all of Yuuji’s plans. Even if said plans are frayed around the edges and much more fragile than Yuuji’s damn feelings.
“Please,” Yuuji tacks on for good measure.
“Fine, alright,” Gojo finally relents. “But you have to listen to me.”
“That’s why I’m here to begin with,” Yuuji says.
“Yeah, but you could easily disregard everything I say in the end,” Gojo points out and true, but Yuuji’s not going to. As long as Gojo doesn’t decide to say something ridiculous. “I’ve known him the longest, so I do know what I’m talking about.”
“Just tell me.”
“Alright, first off, he loves animals. He has two dogs at home, Kuro and Shiro. He likes nice walks by the water. He also likes small gestures of kindness, so try to do something like that,” Gojo informs him. “He’s pretty easy-going, despite his permanent frown. He just doesn’t show it. But you have to make your intentions known, or he won’t notice. He doesn’t easily notice those things.”
Yuuji nods as Gojo speaks, attempting to soak in all this knowledge like a sponge. Megumi seems pretty easy to court. Maybe he can stop by the gourmet dog treat store by his apartment and pick up something there that Megumi’s dogs might like. That’d be a better gift than the usual flowers, right? Since he loves his dogs, that seems more fitting?
“I think I got it,” Yuuji says.
“Great! I wish you luck. Just remember, he won’t get it right away. You need to make sure you’re obvious about it.”
“I’ll try my best,” Yuuji promises, more to himself.
“Awesome! And if you need anything else, just let me know.”
Yuuji thanks him again before heading back out. Sure enough, Megumi is sitting down at the table he usually sits at. He already has his drink and has his computer out. He’s typing away, clearly busy. Tomorrow Yuuji will start enacting his plan.
-
Tomorrow he does not start enacting his plan.
He went to the store that sells dog treats, but there’s literally hundreds of different kinds of treats for different dogs and Yuuji has absolutely no idea what kind of dogs Megumi has. What if he buys the wrong treat, and then there’s just a long, awkward pause before Yuuji starts apologizing profusely for making the mistake? So he left the shop empty handed, and now here he stands behind the counter at work staring off into space as if it’ll somehow provide him with all the answers.
“You need to just talk to him,” comes from his right, sounding much too like a little demon on his shoulder, taunting him of what he cannot do.
“I can’t,” Yuuji groans, smacking his hands down onto the counter in clear defeat.
“Yuuji, you’re overthinking this. It’s easy!” Gojo says, and Yuuji just groans again as he lays his head down on his arms.
“Sukuna said the same thing,” Yuuji mumbles into his arms.
“He’s right. Megumi might be quiet and keep to himself usually, but I’m sure he’d love to talk to you. I didn’t take you for being shy.”
“Not shy…Just don’t want to mess this up,” Yuuji admits.
“You really like him, and that’ll help you even more. He likes genuine interest.”
“But why would I want to date him if I didn’t have any genuine interest?”
“Good point. I could list a few things,” Gojo says, “but you don’t seem like the type to do any of it, so that’s why I’m trying to help you out here.”
No, Yuuji is definitely not the type for one night stands. Yuuji is the dating type, the “long haul” type to be honest. If he likes someone, he really likes them, and he’s going to want to wine and dine them. Minus the wine, because he doesn’t really care for wine.
“You really just want me to talk to him, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Gojo nods, smiling. “Come on, Yuuji, you’ve got this.”
“I don’t know,” Yuuji trails off, scuffing his shoe against the floor.
“Go on, go talk to him,” Gojo urges, already pushing Yuuji out the door. Yuuji stands frozen, allowing Gojo to shove him out from behind the counter, where he can clearly see Megumi sitting down.
Megumi must have shown up somewhere during his existential crisis, because he didn’t realize he was already here. Gojo whispers in his ear again, telling him to just go for it, and Yuuji swallows hard. Okay, fine, he’s going to go talk to him. He can do this.
“Hi, Megumi!” Yuuji greets as soon as he walks over to him.
“Hi,” Megumi says back, not even looking up from what he’s doing.
“I was wondering what kind of treats your dog likes?” Yuuji finally asks.
“Treats my dogs like?” Megumi says slowly, finally looking up at Yuuji. He looks so confused, and it’s cute, and Yuuji just wants to kiss him. When Yuuji nods, Megumi says, “Uh, well. The chewy kinds? They like the beef flavor. They’re um, big dogs, so not the tiny treats.”
“Thank you!” Yuuji says brightly.
“What?” Megumi blinks adorably.
Yuuji doesn’t bother giving him a response, just spins on his heel and gets back to work, because he really doesn’t know where to begin to tell him. Plus, how is it true courting if he tells Megumi his plans? Tomorrow he will go back to the dog treat store and he’s going to buy so many delicious treats and give them to him the next time he sees him.
Yuuji’s got this. Gojo was right.
-
Yuuji finds ten different chewy treats for larger dogs when he walks into the pet store. Some have various labels on them stating that they’re healthier and more beneficial for dogs. He ends up waving over one of the clerks and they end up helping him pick the best brand out. Apparently there’s one type that all the dogs love the best, and if it’s anything he wants more, is to buy the best for Megumi’s dogs. He buys five different flavors. It might be more treats than he should be buying, but it’s always better to buy a little more, right? And if all else fails, Megumi just won’t have to worry about spending money on this for a long time.
It feels like a win-win.
With the treats in hand, he makes his way over to a nearby store for a gift bag to put the items in. While there he picks up some groceries that he needs, and then he makes his way home. It doesn’t take him long to put the treats into the gift bag and then he fills it with the paper.
Standing back to survey his work, Yuuji smiles. He really hopes this works out in his favor tomorrow.
-
Nobara eyes the gift bag the moment Yuuji gets into work the next day. A slow smile spreads across her face before she says anything. “What’s this?”
“A present,” Yuuji answers as he tries to keep his focus on filling the coffee machine with fresh beans.
“For who?” Nobara asks, drawing out her words. Yuuji’s body betrays him as his face heats.
“Megumi,” Yuuji says.
“Oooh,” Nobara says. “Cute. Are you going to give it to him when he comes in?”
“Yep! That’s the plan. I really hope he likes it.”
“Oh I’m sure he will.”
“What if he doesn’t? What if he thinks it’s weird. Who gives someone dog treats for wanting to ask them on a date?”
“Thoughtful and adorable. I wish all the men who hit on me gave me thoughtful presents.”
Yuuji opens his mouth to respond, but the door dingling signals a new customer. He goes to turn around, nearly forgetting what he was doing in the first place, and Nobara laughs and tries to stop him before he becomes an absolute disaster. Yuuji laughs nervously, apologizing to her, before he finally looks at the door. Megumi’s standing there with his hands in his pockets, staring at them as if he’s unsure if he should still approach the counter.
Grinning, Yuuji waves at Megumi and finally Megumi starts walking up to the counter. “It’ll be up in two minutes!”
Megumi smiles, something small but it’s clearly there, and Yuuji can’t help the butterfly feeling at that. A smile looks really good on him.
Yuuji makes the drink and then when he’s done, he hurries into the back where Megumi’s present sits. He grabs it quickly and then heads back out, grabbing Megumi’s drink on his way to his table. Yuuji sets the drink down on the table and then clears his throat to get Megumi’s attention. When Megumi finally looks up, Yuuji thrusts the gift bag in his direction.
“I bought you something,” Yuuji says.
“It’s not my birthday,” is all Megumi says.
“I know it’s not, but I wanted to get you a present anyway!”
Megumi takes the bag from him and then starts sifting through the contents. He takes out the extra paper and then Yuuji hears the crinkle of the dog treat bags. When Megumi takes out one of the bags, his face scrunches up in adorable confusion.
“You bought treats for my dogs?” Megumi asks. “Um, thank you, but why?”
“Because I know how much they mean to you and I thought it would be nice to buy them something!” And also because I want to date you, Yuuji thinks but doesn’t voice, because he’s a coward who is hoping this spells it out for him.
But by the way Megumi is looking at him, it looks as if this isn’t working out quite like he was hoping it would.
“That’s really sweet,” Megumi says as he sets the bag down next to him. “I’m sure they will like them. I haven’t bought this brand before.”
“The store clerk said they were highly rated,” Yuuji says, and tries not to let his disappointment show. At least Megumi seems to like the gift? But why is he not getting it? He bought his dogs gifts!
“Thank you so much,” Megumi smiles. “I’ll let you know how they like them next time I see you.” And then Megumi glances back down at his computer and taps it once, twice in clear dismissal of Yuuji.
Yuuji bites back the sigh that wants to escape and instead forces a smile. “Yes! I’d love to know what they thought.”
Yuuji quickly escapes to the back after that and immediately bangs his head on the wall. He groans, loud and long and defeated. He thought that would work, thought that would be enough to tell Megumi that he likes him as more than just acquaintances (friends? But then again does Megumi even consider him a friend by this point? They really don’t talk enough). God, Yuuji is really bad at this, isn’t he?
“Wow, you’re awful at this,” Gojo voices from somewhere to his left and sure enough when he cracks an eye open, Gojo is standing there smiling as if he’s suddenly come upon the best comedy in the world.
“He didn’t get it,” Yuuji complains as he plops down on the chair in front of Gojo’s desk. “Why didn’t he get it?”
Gojo tilts his head back and laughs, full and loud, at Yuuji’s pain. Yuuji takes back every nice thing he ever said about Gojo, because this is awful.
“Gojo,” Yuuji whines. “He didn’t get it that I wanted to date him! I thought it’d be so easy and then I’d get a date, and everything would work out, but he just thanked me and then went back to work.”
“I told you,” Gojo says. “You need to be obvious. And by obvious, I mean you need to actually say that you want to take him on a date.”
“But you said-”
“I said you needed to be obvious and spell it out for him. Megumi’s smart, but when it comes to love he’s pretty oblivious. You had to actually say the words to him,” Gojo says. “And you failed. But he liked the gift! Not a total failure.” Gojo grins wider, spreading his hands out, and Yuuji half wants to reach out and smack him.
Yuuji throws his head against the back of the chair, squeezes his eyes shut and bites back the frustrated scream. This is awful. “I just don’t get it!”
“You bought treats for his dogs and while thoughtful and oh so adorable, it’s kinda not the obvious ‘I’d like to date you’ shtick. You gotta tell him.”
“I can’t!”
“You can! I really do believe in you. Don’t give up!”
“Fine.” Yuuji blows out a frustrated breath and gets up out of the chair. “I’ll try again another day.”
“Great! Now you should go back to work, I’m sure there’s plenty of customers that need help.”
Turns out there aren’t any customers that need help. Megumi is still typing away at his laptop and a little old lady is still knitting in the opposite far corner, so all there is for Yuuji to do is make sure everything is well-stocked and start wiping down the counters again.
All he can think about the rest of the day is how much his plan did not work out and how exactly he’s going to ask Megumi out the next time he sees him. He could do it now, but Megumi looks too wrapped up in what he’s doing and Yuuji really doesn’t want to push his luck today.
-
Yuuji doesn’t see Megumi the next day, nor the day after that, but he decides that’s okay. He still hasn’t decided on how he’s going to approach him and this way it gives him a little bit of time.
It’s three days later that he finally sees Megumi again. Usually Yuuji is already at work when Megumi stops in, but this time Megumi is already sitting at a table when Yuuji pushes his way through the doors. Yuuji freezes on the spot and when he tells himself he’s being ridiculous and finally looks away, he meets the gaze of both Gojo and Nobara.
Gojo makes a shooing motion with his hands, grin firmly in place, and mouths, Go on.
Yuuji swallows hard and decides it’s just like a bandaid. If he hurries up and gets it over with, then it’ll be all over and he’ll get his answer one way or another. It won’t hurt as much, right? Just a quick sting, and that’s it.
As soon as Yuuji says, “Hi, Megumi!”, Megumi's phone rings loudly in the nearly empty coffee shop.
“Hi,” Megumi says and then holds a hand up, looking apologetic. “Sorry, I need to get this right now.”
“It’s okay! I get that your call might be important!” Yuuji motions over at the counter. “I’ll be right over there until you’re done!”
The small smile that graces Megumi’s face makes Yuuji feel triumphant. However, five minutes later when he watches Megumi walk out of the coffee shop in a hurry makes Yuuji suddenly feel as if he’s missed his chance yet again.
He has to tell himself that he’ll see Megumi again, and that he’ll just have to wait longer.
-
Yuuji’s next opportunity comes a few days later.
The workday has been busy. Both Yuuji and Nobara have spent the majority of the day with nothing but lines, and neither of them knows just why they’re suddenly so busy. It’s not as if they never are, but this feels like it’s busier than normal and both of them vow to ask Gojo the next time he comes in. Because of course today of all days Gojo has decided he needs a day off. Which more than likely means he’s over in Kyoto bothering his boyfriend at the other location.
And of course Megumi comes in right when Yuuji gets an ice coffee dumped on him. Megumi stands frozen, watching the cold, brown liquid drip down the front of Yuuji’s white shirt.
“I am so sorry!” the mother of the small child says as she grabs the nearby napkins and hands them to Yuuji. There are five napkins in total and they are too flimsy and small to be able to dry up the mess that currently drenches his shirt. The mother has one hand gripping tight to her unruly child and she looks as if she’s about to keep helping, but Yuuji holds his hands up and forces a cheery smile on his face.
“It’s okay! I can handle it from here! Just have a good day!” Yuuji tells her and then watches her drag her child out of the coffee shop.
Yuuji laughs nervously, pulling at his wet shirt and being caught between a mix of feelings.
“What warranted that?” is what comes out of Megumi’s mouth and when Yuuji finally meets his eyes, it’s to see a dusting of red on Megumi’s face.
“Wrong place at the wrong time,” Yuuji laughs again, rubbing at the back of his head. “I was walking by and the kid ended up hitting the cup and it went all over me.”
“I can see that,” Megumi says, his eyes roaming all over Yuuji’s chest.
Yuuji’s shirt is clinging obscenely and he really needs to get changed into something dry, which requires him to go home to change. But with the way Megumi is looking at him, it makes him want to stay here and continue talking to him. The question is on the tip of his tongue, all he has to do is open his mouth and say the six little words and then await Megumi’s answer.
Nobara’s yell cuts off any and all thoughts, and he jerks his attention over to her. He raises his eyebrows in question and she huffs, cocking her hip to the side with her hands on her waist. “You’re not safe for work, Yuuji!”
Yuuji looks back down and yeah, okay, he looks like he entered a wet t-shirt contest. His nipples are poking through his shirt because he’s currently cold. The only thing that is missing is wearing a small pair of booty shorts, which he has at home, but that’s besides the point right now.
Yeah, he does not look appropriate to be here.
“This is almost like a very awkward wet t-shirt contest right now,” Yuuji blurts out.
“I’d say if you were actually in one, you’d win, but right now all you’re unfortunately winning is the possibility of giving all the sweet, older ladies a heart attack,” Nobara says, and Yuuji winces.
“You’d definitely win,” Megumi croaks out, and clears his throat loudly, coughing into his hand as if he’s trying to pretend that it didn't come from his mouth.
But oh, Yuuji heard. He definitely heard him. If it wasn’t for needing to go home right now, that would seal it for him staying to talk to him.
“I’m gonna go home and I’ll be right back!” Yuuji tells them and starts heading for the door.
“Please don’t disrupt traffic with your nips!” Nobara yells out just before Yuuji leaves.
Yuuji stumbles out of the coffee shop and the last thing he hears is a noise from inside that sounds a lot like Megumi. As he’s headed home, he thinks about how he may not have been able to ask the important question, but at least he feels more like he might have an actual chance after all. He can’t get the way Megumi was looking at him out of his head, and spends the entire walk home in a daze.
-
He doesn’t get another shot at doing it until he goes to a small party his brother puts together. Half the time Sukuna puts these parties together, they’re packed full, but this time around there’s only a handful of people. The apartment is still filled with people when Yuuji arrives, but he knows it could be much worse on other occasions. He immediately recognizes Todo near the kitchen talking to Choso, Gojo, and Geto. From the sounds of it, Todo is busy telling the other three about some meet and greet he went to.
If Gojo is here, he wonders if Megumi is as well. Yuuji sneaks past them before Todo can notice him, because he wants to see if he’s right about this and he knows as soon as Todo sees him, he’ll be tugged into the conversation. Todo might be his best friend, but sometimes Yuuji just needs a little space.
Yuuji makes his way to the living room, looking around as he tries to spot Megumi. Sure enough, to his surprise, Megumi is there, sitting on the couch and looking as if he’d rather be anywhere else than at the party. Megumi never seemed like the partying type, so he sticks out among the party-goers. Then again, he’d stick out anyway, because he really is the most beautiful man Yuuji’s ever laid eyes on.
The biggest surprise comes that Sukuna is currently sitting on the arm of the couch talking to Megumi as if they’re friends. Upon a closer look, while Megumi might seem like he’s not enjoying the party at large, he does appear to be enjoying Sukuna’s company at least. This doesn’t make sense.
“Sukuna, you didn’t tell me you were friends with Megumi!” is what tumbles its way out of Yuuji’s mouth before he can stop himself. His mouth snaps shut with an audible click when Megumi’s green eyes fall on him.
Sukuna smirks. “You didn’t ask, baby brother.”
“He’s my editor,” Megumi says.
“He’s your what?” Yuuji asks.
“I’m an editor at the agency he’s at,” Sukuna explains. “Well, I only really work with Megumi’s books. He’s the only writer there worth my time.”
“That doesn’t seem like a good way to do your job, ‘Kuna,” Yuuji scolds, and Sukuna laughs.
“You know good and well that’s not the only job I do,” Sukuna says. “I keep busy.”
“Isn’t that the truth, we barely get to hang out anymore.”
Sukuna seems surprised at the sad tone in Yuuji’s voice. “We’ll talk later about this, but for now,” Sukuna looks between Yuuji and Megumi. “Don’t you have something important to tell Megumi?”
Megumi’s head tilts to the side and he raises an eyebrow. “You have something to tell me?”
Yuuji shoots his brother a look and Sukuna smirks in triumph. His brother is evil. Sure, he would’ve broached the subject to Megumi anyway, but Sukuna didn’t need to immediately put him on the spot like this.
Clapping his hands together with a mischievous glint in his eye, Sukuna declares, “Well I need to go make sure Todo and Gojo aren’t making a mess in my kitchen. I might have to kill them, if they are. I also need to go find Uraume.”
“‘Kuna,” Yuuji can’t help but groan, as he watches Sukuna start to retreat.
“Tell him, or I might have to add you to the pile of bodies,” Sukuna threatens in glee.
“Why are you like this,” Yuuji says, which only earns him another laugh out of his brother. When Sukuna’s out of eyesight, he realizes he’s now completely alone with Megumi.
He’s thought about what he’d say for days now since he decided on going for it, but now finally faced with Megumi all of his thoughts just whoosh out of him, leaving him staring down at Megumi at a complete loss for words.
“What did you want to say?” Megumi asks, and he’s looking at Yuuji all soft, voice a shy timber that makes Yuuji fight back the shiver.
He can do this, he can.
Pulling the metaphorical bandaid off, Yuuji finally confesses, “I really, really like you and want to take you out on a date.”
Megumi smiles fully, a faint dusting of a blush on his cheeks. “I’d love that,” Megumi says, but Yuuji doesn’t hear it right away, because Yuuji just steamrolls through.
“I tried to tell you before, with the dog treats. That’s why I bought them because I thought if you really love your dogs then the best thing would be to buy something for what you love? But I failed to do that. Gojo laughed at me.”
“Yuuji,” Megumi tries again, and Yuuji finally stops talking, staring down wide-eyed.
“What?”
“I said I’d love to go out with you,” Megumi replies, with laughter in his voice.
“Oh,” Yuuji breathes out and finally grins, feeling as if a weight has been lifted.
“That gift was really thoughtful and I did love it, but it really wasn’t obvious.” Megumi laughs again, and oh does Yuuji have it bad, because he really can’t get over how Megumi looks when he does. Megumi’s face just gets so much brighter, more beautiful when he laughs and all Yuuji wants to do is keep making him smile like he is right now.
“You really are kinda perfect,” Yuuji sighs out, and watches as Megumi blushes a pretty shade of red.
“And you should come keep me company on this couch,” Megumi says, and Yuuji doesn’t need to be told twice nor does he want to waste anymore time. When he finally sits down next to Megumi, he gathers enough courage to pull Megumi close.
From there, they start actually talking for real and getting to know each other. Yuuji’s pretty sure his favorite thing is listening to Megumi talk about his dogs. Apparently they did, in fact, enjoy the treats Yuuji got them and he can’t help but puff up in pride at finding that out.
Unfortunately, thirty minutes later they’re pulled out of their perfect, little bubble by a shrill screech coming from the other room. Gojo comes running into the living room, asking for Geto to save him, as Sukuna yells after him about ruining something. Yuuji and Megumi just look at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.
-
A week later, after two successful dates and too many late nights talking on the phone, Megumi comes into the coffee shop as Yuuji’s trying to fix the espresso machine. Yuuji holds up a hand to let him know to wait and once he finally manages to get it working again, he turns to his boyfriend. Megumi’s biting his bottom lip, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. The tip of his nose is a little rosy from the cold weather, and all Yuuji wants to do is pull him close and kiss him until he’s warm again.
When Yuuji leans across the counter for a quick kiss hello, they’re both met with Gojo’s loud wolf whistle. Megumi sends a glare Gojo’s way and Yuuji tries to ignore him as he goes in for one more kiss from Megumi.
“So you did it!” Gojo says happily.
“I finally asked him last week at Sukuna’s party,” Yuuji explains.
“I didn’t realize! But then again I was too busy trying to avoid your brother’s wrath.”
“Oh we saw,” Megumi says, rolling his eyes. “You always try to push Sukuna’s buttons. I’m not sure I understand your friendship.”
“I’m pretty sure Sukuna’s more Geto’s friend than Gojo’s,” Yuuji points out and Gojo simply nods at that.
“That’s half true! Technically I met your brother first, but I’m pretty sure he was Geto’s friend first and I just weasled my way into his friendship.” Gojo looks smug at that, and in a way Yuuji thinks he has the right to. Sukuna’s like a prickly cat, too choosy in who he befriends or gives the time of day to. So for Gojo to have successfully befriended Sukuna, that’s definitely something to feel triumphant over.
“That sounds just like you to do,” Megumi sighs, and then turns to Yuuji again, giving him another quick kiss. “Can I have my drink and then I can steal you for the rest of the day?”
“If he’ll let me leave early.” Yuuji looks over at Gojo, who is looking at them both with glee. Yuuji thinks maybe he’ll up the charm, try to give some puppy dog eyes and do the thing Nobara always says he’s good at when they get an angry customer, but Gojo looks so happy that Yuuji doesn’t think it’s warranted.
“Have fun, remember to use protection, and also remember you’re due back here tomorrow at 6am, sharp!” Gojo announces right when Nobara walks through the door. Nobara looks between the three of them, but chooses not to say anything.
“I changed my mind, I don’t need my drink,” Megumi says, pulling Yuuji along until Yuuji can move around from behind the counter. “You’re an embarrassment.”
“But I’m your favorite embarrassment,” Gojo says with the most shit-eating grin. Megumi looks about ready to punch him, but Yuuji declares they’re going to go before he can find out if that happens or not.
Later, Yuuji’s determined to find out about the story is between those two. For now, he’s going to happily let his new boyfriend lead them to their date.